Arsenal are using Manchester United’s swoop for Robin van Persie as leverage in their chase for misfit Nani.

The Gunners have opened talks with United over a January move for the Portugal winger.
The Old Trafford club want in the region of £20million for Nani, who has fallen out of favour with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

But Arsenal want a cheaper fee and are highlighting Van Persie’s summer move north in their attempts to secure a lower price.

Meanwhile, Everton’s Nikica Jelavic is the latest striker Arsenal have looked at in their search for a new centre forward next month.

On the fringes: Nani has struggled to hold down a place in the United starting XI this season due to injury and poor form

A senior scout ran the rule over the Croatia star in Everton’s 2-1 win over West Ham on December 22.
Arsenal also have a strong interest in Southampton’s 17-year-old left back Luke Shaw.

Whilst in an ideal world Arsenal could hope to use the sale of Robin Van Persie to Man United as leverage in their pursuit of Portuguese winger Nani the transfer window doesn’t quite work like that. After all if this was the way things worked then Arsene Wenger should do all his shopping at the Etihad Stadium, after all has elected to sell a quartet of talents to Man City in recent seasons.

There has been growing speculation about Nani’s Old Trafford future and the 26 year old has made just four Premier League starts this season and does appear to be surplus to requirements at Man United. However Sir Alex Ferguson is not likely to sell the talented attacker cheaply, not when he knows there are plenty of interested parties on the continent.

Arsenal’s interest in Nani could wane once they take a look at his wage demands, which are sure to dwarf any salary currently being handed out to Gunners stars.

Interest in Everton striker Nikica Jelavic may be more realistic though clearly David Moyes would be loathed to lose the Croatian international. The former Rangers man has been in excellent form since his move South of the Border in January, netting 17 goals from 31 starts for the Toffees.

The 27 year old has formed a good understanding with Marouane Fellaini, with the Belgian teaming up well with the lethal finisher in a support role that has been pivotal to Everton’s excellent start to the season which has seen the Goodison Park side lose just twice in 19 Premier League fixtures this season.

Arsenal’s interest in bringing in an out and out forward to help support Olivier Giroud, who is Wenger’s preferred front-man, may well lead to the North London side looking to buy in January.

Theo Walcott has finally got the chance to show what he is capable of in an orthodox striking role in recent weeks and has done well. However Wenger may well still see the England man as primarily a wide attacker and as yet no new contract has been signed by the 23 year old so he could well leave the club in January or next summer when his deal comes to a close.

The Arsenal boss also appears to see Gervinho and Lukas Podolski as wide attacking options though both can be used effectively up front.

Interest in Southampton full-back Luke Shaw has been growing ever since his Premier League debut and the teenage left-back has a number of prospective suitors. Arsenal’s interest could stem from the fact that Brazilian Andre Santos has looked so woeful this season.

Though Arsene Wenger has Kieran Gibbs on hand to fill the left-back berth he may feel that the addition of another talent could help to further boost the England man’s recent improvement in form. Shaw is some six months away from his 18th birthday and could well become the third Saints man to make the move from St Mary’s to the Emirates Stadium, following in the footsteps of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.